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Widow, Wahl Road neighbors testify in Douglas murder trial

by BEN WATANABE, South Whidbey Record Langley, Clinton, arts and entertainment, features

Jul 11, 2012 at 4:33PM

The widow of Russel Douglas, who was murdered in December 2003, testified Wednesday in Island County Superior Court.

Brenna Douglas addressed her relationship with her husband, which she descried as strained at times. She took the stand in the trial of James Huden, who Island County Prosecutors allege was the triggerman who shot Russel Douglas in the back of the head the day after Christmas more than eight years ago.

Also testifying were two Wahl Road residents, Diane Bailey and Nicole Luce. Neither saw the crime, but both saw the yellow Geo Tracker sport utility vehicle owned by Douglas. He was found slumped over the steering wheel on a driveway off Wahl Road. Bailey testified she saw the car Dec. 27 drive down Wahl Road, then come partially up her driveway, before it backed out and went west. Bailey also said she did not see who was driving or how many people were in the car.

Luce said she spotted the car pulled off a driveway of a neighbor's property. She and her partner Janet Hall walked along the beach Dec. 27, and returned home by crossing a neighbor's property. Parked off the driveway was a sport utility vehicle, of which Luce said in court she could not remember the color.

The trial will resume at 9 a.m. Thursday, July 12.

BEN WATANABE, South Whidbey Record Langley, Clinton, arts and entertainment, features

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